What causes blood in urine? 47 possible conditions

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Hematuria is the medical term for blood in your urine. Several different conditions and diseases can cause hematuria. These include infections, kidney disease, cancer, and rare blood disorders. The blood may be visible or in such small quantities that it... Read more

Hematuria is the medical term for blood in your urine. Several
different conditions and diseases can cause hematuria. These include
infections, kidney disease, cancer, and rare blood disorders. The blood may be
visible or in such small quantities that it can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Any blood in the urine can be the sign of a serious health problem, even if it
happens only once. You should make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible.
Ignoring hematuria can lead to the worsening of very serious conditions like
cancer and kidney disease. Your doctor can analyze your urine and order imaging
tests to determine the cause of the hematuria. They can then treat that cause.

What
Are the Types of Hematuria?

Gross Hematuria

If there’s enough blood in your urine that your urine appears
pink or red or has spots of visible blood, you have “gross hematuria.”

Microscopic Hematuria

When you can’t see the blood because the amount is so small, you
have “microscopic hematuria.” Only a lab test that detects blood or looking at
a sample of urine under a microscope can confirm microscopic hematuria.

What
Causes Hematuria?

There are many possible causes for hematuria. In some cases, the
blood may be from a different source. Blood can appear to be in the urine when
it’s really coming from the vagina in women, the ejaculate in men, or from a
bowel movement in either men or women. If the blood is truly in your urine,
there are several potential causes.

Infection

Infection is one of the most common causes of hematuria. The
infection could be somewhere in your urinary tract, your bladder, or in your
kidneys. Infection occurs when bacteria move up the urethra, the tube that
carries urine out of the body from the bladder. The infection can move into the
bladder and even into the kidneys. It often causes pain and a need to urinate
frequently. There may be gross or microscopic hematuria.

Stones

Another common reason for blood in the urine is the presence of stones
in the bladder or kidney. These are crystals that form from the minerals in
your urine. They can develop inside your kidneys or bladder. Large stones can
cause a blockage that often results in hematuria and significant pain.

Enlarged Prostate

In men who are middle-aged and older, a fairly common cause of
hematuria is an enlarged prostate. This gland is just beneath the bladder and
near the urethra. When the prostate gets bigger, as it often does in men at
middle age, it compresses the urethra. This causes problems with urinating and
may prevent the bladder from emptying completely. This can result in a urinary
tract infection with blood in the urine.

Kidney Disease

A less common reason for seeing blood in the urine is kidney
disease. A diseased or inflamed kidney can cause hematuria. This disease can
occur on its own or as part of another disease such as diabetes.

In children aged 6 to 10 years, the kidney disorder post-streptococcal
glomerulonephritis may cause hematuria. This disorder can develop one to two
weeks after an untreated strep infection. Once common, it’s rare today because
antibiotics can quickly treat strep infections.

Cancer

Cancer of the bladder, kidney, or prostate can cause blood in the
urine. This is a symptom that often occurs in advanced cancer cases. There may
not be earlier signs of a problem.

Medications

Certain medications can cause hematuria. These include:

penicillin

aspirin

blood thinners like heparin and warfarin

cyclophosphamide, which is a drug used to treat
certain types of cancer

Less Common Causes

There are a few other causes of hematuria that aren’t very
common. Rare blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, Alport syndrome, and
hemophilia can cause blood in the urine. Strenuous exercise or a blow to the
kidneys can also cause blood to show up in the urine.

How
Is the Cause of Hematuria Diagnosed?

If you’re seeing your doctor for hematuria, there are many
questions you’ll need to answer. Your doctor will ask you about the amount of blood
and when you see it during urination. They’ll want to know how often you
urinate, any pain you’re experiencing, if you see blood clots, and what
medications you’re taking.

Your doctor will then give you a physical examination and collect
a sample of your urine for testing. The analysis of your urine can confirm the
presence of blood and detect bacteria if an infection is the cause. Your doctor
may order imaging tests such as a CT scan, which uses radiation to create an
image of your body.

Another possible test your doctor may want to do is a cystoscopy.
This involves using a small tube to send a camera up your urethra and into your
bladder. With the camera, your doctor can examine the interior of your bladder
and urethra to determine the cause of your hematuria.

When
Should I Seek Medical Attention?

Some of the causes of blood in the urine are very serious. You
should seek medical attention the first time you see it. You shouldn’t ignore even
a small amount of blood in your urine. See your doctor if you don’t see blood
in your urine but experience frequent, difficult, or painful urination,
abdominal pain, or kidney pain. These may all be indications of microscopic
hematuria.

Seek emergency help if you can’t urinate, see blood clots when
you urinate, or have blood in your urine along with one or more of the
following:

nausea

vomiting

a fever

chills

pain in your side, back, or abdomen

What
Are the Complications Associated with Hematuria?

Many of the causes of blood in the urine are very serious. Ignoring
this symptom can have dire consequences. If the symptom is due to cancer,
ignoring it can lead to an advancement of the tumors to the point that they’re
no longer treatable. Untreated infections can ultimately lead to kidney
failure.

Treatment can help reduce symptoms if the cause of hematuria is
an enlarged prostate. Ignoring it may lead to discomfort from needing to
urinate frequently, severe pain, and even cancer.

Ignoring hematuria when you have stones can be very painful. Prescription
medications and treatments can help you pass stones. These treatments work by breaking
the stones into smaller pieces.

How
Can I Prevent Hematuria?

Preventing hematuria means preventing the underlying causes:

To prevent infections, drink plenty of water
daily, urinate immediately after sexual intercourse, and practice good hygiene.

To prevent stones, drink plenty of water and
avoid excess salt and certain foods like spinach and rhubarb.

See a list of possible causes in order from the most common to the least.

Kidney stones are solid masses of crystalized calcium or other substances that originate in the kidneys but can pass through the urinary tract. The greatest risk factor is making less than one liter of urine per day.